How much of your time do you spend thinking about your future goals?
We live a world of seemingly endless goals, appointments, schedules and ambitions. Frequently these goals emanate from recognising an inner pull to be moving in a certain direction, as one with our path. However, could it be the risk of holding these objectives too tightly is to tend to live in the future and not the present?

If this was the case, wouldn't it be dangerous to our smooth unfolding?...

In my truth each goal has but one purpose:

"to guide us to a choice we don't yet understand"

The circumstances of our lives are shaped by our attachments - the perceived need or desire for a particular outcome to events. If you like our attachments are our "karma" and we are guided on a pathway to release this karma and discover our innate completeness beyond need and desire. Ultimately we reach a place of complete acceptance.

The universe conspires to create opportunities for us to experience and recognise these attachments - the places where our buttons get pressed. So when we have a goal or objective, its purpose is to shape a new landscape" causing us to make choices. If we identify ourselves with that landscape however (one with a new house, car or the ideal partner for example), then the tendency is to live in that illusion rather than the reality of the current moment. If we are not truly engaged in the moment, how can we make the right choice?

This parable below captures the essence of this view:

A young boy travels across Japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the sensei (teacher)
"What do you wish from me?" the sensei asked.
"I wish to be your student and become the finest martial artist in the land" the boy replied. "How long must I study?"
"Ten years at least" the sensei replied.
"Ten years is a long time" said the boy. "What if I train twice as hard as all your other students?"
"Twenty years" replied the sensei.
"Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?"
"Thirty years" was the sensei's reply.
"How is it that each time I say I shall work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?" the boy asked.
"The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left to find the Way."

So what will your strategy in life be? Will you be constantly thinking about your goals? Or will you allow the future to unfold out of the present?